More than 240 representatives from education departments, universities, and research institutions from 35 countries and regions gathered in Shanghai on Jan 30 to attend the parallel session of the 2024 World Digital Education Conference.

Themed "Digitalization and the Building of a Learning Society", the session explored the theoretical and practical aspects of building a learning society in the digital era.

Wu Yan, deputy minister of the Ministry of Education, said that building a learning society is a common concern of the international community. He noted that the rapid development of information technology and the expansion of higher education have made the vision of "learning anytime, anywhere, by everyone" a reality.

The session also featured speeches by ministers and officials from Gabon, New Zealand, and the African Union, who shared their policy measures and practical efforts to promote digital education and lifelong learning in their respective regions.

Isabelle Kempf, director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, introduced UNESCO's concepts and initiatives for building a lifelong learning society and achieving inclusive digital learning. Torunn Gjelsvik, secretary general of the International Council for Open and Distance Education, stressed the significance of digitalization in building a global learning society and highlighted the need for quality and inclusivity.

The Asian Association of Open Universities and the African Council for Distance Education shared new concepts and strategies for building a learning society within their organizations. Several research institutes and universities also showcased their successful cases and best practices for fostering learning societies through digitalization in their countries and schools.

The participants reached a consensus that the digital technology revolution will bring about profound educational reforms. They called for stronger cooperation among governments, schools, and businesses worldwide to jointly build lifelong learning platforms, share high-quality resources, and address the challenges posed by technologies such as artificial intelligence to education and humanity.

Source: xinhuanet.com